FAAN’s Newly Commissioned Wildlife Equipment To Be Deployed To Various Airports
The Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku says the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Wildlife Hazard Control Equipment commissioned yesterday to tackle the menace of bird strikes, will be deployed to the various airports across the country.
Kuku, who was represented at the event at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos by the Director of Airport Operations, Capt. Abdulllahi Mohmood said the equipment would also help to improve safety in the aviation industry, pointing out that FAAN having seen how dangerous bird strikes can be to safety over the years, decided to enhance its equipment to fight the threat posed by wildlife to air safety.
“Today, we have received the equipment from ICAO and we are going to commission it and after commissioning, distribute it to the various Airports across the country where it will be properly utilized in mitigating wildlife hazards that are facing us daily ,” Kuku said.
Speaking further , Kuku said,” Most of you are fully aware of recent happenings, where we had so much incidences of bird strikes but fortunately at least, it did not lead to an accident unlike other places even if it is not an accident, sometimes you find serious damage to the engines of the aircraft and the airline face serious challenges in flight in form of disruption. Sometimes, it causes a lot of disruptions, ranging from flight delays to cancellations.”
On the cost of the equipment, Kuku, who did not mention the amount spent, said that millions of naira was expended. The FAAN boss thanked the airline operators for their patience and cooperation and that despite the challenges they face, they still supported and cooperated with the organization.
In her vote of thanks, the General Manager, Environmental Services, Mrs. Nanlo Christopher, thanked the e Managing Director of FAAN, Director of Airport Operations and the management team for ensuring that the equipment arrived safely. She also thanked them for their support, cooperation and commitment to see that bird strike is reduced to the barest minimum.
She said that the issue of bird strikes cannot be over emphasized, adding that airline operators have been bashing the agency as a result of the incidents of bird strikes.
According to her, “the situation was almost becoming a weekly affair but we are now happy that these equipment have arrived safely.
“I also want to plead when we apply, the process of procurement should be enhanced so that we don’t have this type of breach.”
She appreciated airline operators for their patience and cooperation, adding that despite the challenges, the airlines did not resort to legal action.
